TOKYO, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TIER IV, the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, will showcase a solution for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) that integrates AI, data, and computing at Automotive World 2026, to be held at Makuhari Messe from September 9 to 11, 2026. As part of its exhibition, TIER IV will introduce the autolabeling function of its Co-MLOps platform, a data-sharing platform, as well as its reference E2E AI model, an end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving AI model developed using data processed through the platform. The demonstration will run the reference E2E AI model on an automotive computer, showcasing an integrated SDV solution that covers the entire process, from data collection and processing to the development of the E2E autonomous driving AI model and its deployment on an automotive computing platform.

Toward the development of autonomous driving systems for passenger vehicles

As the use of AI in autonomous driving technology continues to advance rapidly, high-quality and diverse datasets with accurate labeling are becoming increasingly important for enabling AI to correctly interpret its surroundings. Equally important is an efficient framework for developing autonomous driving AI models using these datasets. To deploy autonomous driving AI models in mass-produced vehicles, including passenger vehicles, it is also essential to run these models efficiently on automotive computing platforms.

To accelerate the development of autonomous driving AI, TIER IV launched the Co-MLOps platform in January 2024 and has been working with partners to collect and share driving data. TIER IV is working toward an integrated SDV solution that combines AI, data, and computing by automatically labeling driving data collected through the platform, efficiently developing the E2E autonomous driving AI model using the labeled data, and establishing an environment for deploying the model on an automotive computing platform.

Key features of the autolabeling function

Using driving data as training data for autonomous driving AI models requires the collection of large volumes of driving data and accurate labeling to enable AI to correctly interpret the data. The autolabeling function automatically labels a wide range of objects and background elements in driving data, including vehicles, pedestrians, road surfaces and structures, so that they can be accurately recognized by AI.

The function can generate millions of labels instantly and with consistent quality, enabling efficient data processing even when new regions or sensors are added or the volume of data increases. By automating the enormous amount of labeling work that has traditionally been performed manually, the function is expected to reduce development costs and accelerate the development of autonomous driving AI models.

To improve the accuracy of autonomous driving AI models, TIER IV supplements difficult-to-collect driving data, such as rare scenarios directly associated with collision risks and data from adverse weather conditions, with synthetic data generated using NVIDIA Cosmos. The autolabeling function is also used to label this generated data.

For more details on the autolabeling function and the use of NVIDIA Cosmos to supplement driving data, please see TIER IV’s tech blog, Building a dataset foundation for autonomous driving with NVIDIA Cosmos.

Key features of the reference E2E AI model

The reference E2E AI model does not rely on high-definition maps and uses only images captured by automotive cameras to perform a range of functions, from a bird’s-eye-view understanding of the surrounding environment to trajectory generation, using a single neural network. The model supports 3D road and object recognition, the generation of occupancy maps that determine whether obstacles are present in each cell when the environment captured by camera images is divided into a grid, and vehicle trajectory prediction. Its architecture is also well suited to automotive computing, making it easier to deploy on actual system-on-chips.

The model is developed through an agentic AI-driven development process. Humans specify what to build, while an AI agent takes the lead in developing the E2E autonomous driving AI model, incorporating automatically labeled driving data, data transformation and cleansing, implementation optimization, and model management. The agent autonomously runs the cycle of training, evaluation, and improvement. By having agentic AI lead the development process, the model is designed to improve development efficiency and enable low-cost, rapid prototyping of autonomous driving AI models.

TIER IV is continuing to develop the reference E2E AI model and plans to make it available to partners participating in the Co-MLOps project.

Demonstration at Automotive World 2026

TIER IV will demonstrate technology that automatically labels various objects and background elements in driving data using the autolabeling function of the Co-MLOps platform. The demonstration will also run the reference E2E AI model, developed using the labeled driving data, on an NVIDIA Jetson Orin, where the model will use only images from automotive cameras to perform the entire process from a bird’s-eye-view understanding of the surrounding environment to trajectory generation.

By integrating large-scale driving data collection and processing through the platform with the continuous development and improvement of the E2E autonomous driving AI model and its deployment on the automotive computing platform, TIER IV is advancing the development of an SDV solution designed to support automakers and suppliers in the development of autonomous driving systems for mass production in passenger vehicles.

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. With a comprehensive suite of platforms and services built around Autoware, TIER IV provides everything from software development and vehicle procurement to operational support. Through the Autoware ecosystem, TIER IV works with partners worldwide to shape the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, aiming to create mobility that is safer, more sustainable, and accessible to all.

Media contact
pr@tier4.jp 

The word marks and logos of TIER IV are trademarks or registered trademarks of TIER IV, Inc. in Japan and other countries. All other company names, product names, service names, and logos referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tier-iv-to-showcase-integrated-ai-data-and-computing-solution-for-sdvs-at-automotive-world-2026-302859969.html

SOURCE TIER IV, Inc.

New BCG Research Finds That in More Than Half of AI-Assisted Journeys, AI Introduces Consumers to New BrandsNearly a Third of Consumers Now Use AI at Some Point in Their Purchase Journey, Roughly Triple the Rate of 18 Months AgoValue, Not Price Alone, Is Driving Purchase Decisions, While Health Concerns and Solo Living Reshape What Consumers Want

BOSTON, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AI is rapidly gaining influence over purchase decisions as consumers rethink which sources they should trust. More than half of consumers say they don’t fully trust any single source of information, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG). But AI is already among consumers’ most trusted sources, along with experts and peers, and they expect their trust in it to increase by 15 percentage points by 2030, faster than any other source.

These discoveries are presented in Global Consumers Have Moved On. Has Your Growth Strategy Caught Up?, a new report from BCG’s Global Advantage practice and Center for Customer Insight. The report is based on a survey of more than 13,000 consumers across 12 markets, supplemented by over 100 in-depth consumer interviews and an analysis of more than 1,000 brands. The research identifies five enduring themes that are reshaping consumer behavior: trust, AI-driven decision making, value over price, longevity and well-being, and solo living.

“Many companies are still competing for a consumer who has already moved on,” said Aparna Bharadwaj, a managing director and senior partner at BCG, global leader of BCG’s Global Advantage practice, and a coauthor of the report. “Consumer journeys have shifted through the power of AI. This makes key thematic consumer segments such as solo households and longevity seekers feel highly underserved by brands. Four in ten consumers feel overwhelmed by the volume of information they encounter, and they are increasingly turning to AI as a trusted source to help them cut through that noise. Understanding the implications of that emerging trend is now central to any company’s growth agenda.”

AI Is Becoming a New Gatekeeper for Consumer Choice

Today, 31% of surveyed consumers use AI at some point in their purchase journey, roughly triple the level that did so just 18 months ago. Some 19% are AI loyalists who rely on it regularly when making purchase decisions, and 70% of these users ultimately buy the products it recommends.

The expanding role of AI poses a new challenge for brands. In more than half of AI-assisted purchase journeys, the technology introduces consumers to brands they would not otherwise have considered. As AI increasingly helps mediate what consumers see, brands may have less visibility into how they are being recommended, ranked, or excluded.

New Sources of Growth Extend Beyond AI

The research identifies several other structural themes that are already reshaping consumer demand:

Value over Price. Over two-thirds of consumers say they will buy only when they perceive good value, even if they can afford the product at the price point offered.Health over Traditional Markers of Success. Nearly three-quarters of consumers rank health and well-being as the strongest indicator of prosperity, ahead of career at 40% and financial wealth at 28%.The Rise of Solo Living. In mature markets, one in every three households now consists of a single person, up 6 percentage points since 2010. Solo households spend two to three times more per capita than multiperson households, yet 50% to 70% say products and services are not designed for people like them, making solo households one of the largest and most underserved opportunities for future growth.

“Companies that truly understand their consumers and recognize these shifts early will be better positioned to capture the next wave of growth,” said Lauren Taylor, a BCG managing director and senior partner, global leader of the Center for Customer Insight, and a coauthor of the report. “Brands need to understand what creates value and build for the needs of emerging growth segments. They must also prepare for a world of AI-native commerce, where a recommendation can threaten an incumbent and create a challenger in the same moment.”

Download the publication here:

https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/five-consumer-shifts-reshaping-growth

Media Contact:

Eric Gregoire

+1 617 850 3783

gregoire.eric@bcg.com 

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group bridges the gap between ambition and outcomes for the world’s leading companies and organizations. We are built for this era of unprecedented change—bringing strategic clarity rooted in over 60 years of deep domain knowledge, combined with applied AI shaped by our practitioners. BCG works shoulder-to-shoulder with CEOs across industries and geographies to deliver transformative impact at scale: stronger returns, transferred capabilities, and change that sticks. For more information, visit bcg.com.

About BCG’s Center for Customer Insight

BCG’s Center for Customer Insight (CCI) turns understanding into real impact, drawing on a comprehensive spectrum of customer intelligence. CCI’s experts work closely with the full range of BCG’s practices to uncover the deep “why” of human behavior, integrating quantitative and qualitative consumer, customer, and citizen insights with a deep understanding of business strategy, competitive dynamics, and public policy context to drive action plans across both private and public sectors.

Building on its longstanding customer-centric DNA, CCI combines deep expertise and human insights with cutting-edge AI-powered capabilities to deliver deeper, more actionable recommendations that power growth, innovation, and new opportunities. By integrating advanced analytics, proprietary data assets, and AI-enabled approaches, the center helps organizations better understand what drives customer demand and influence; identify growth potential; and make more confident, real-time decisions to maximize value in an increasingly complex environment.

In the course of its work, the center has amassed a rich set of proprietary data on consumers and citizens in both emerging and developed markets around the world. CCI is sponsored by BCG’s Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice and Global Advantage practice. For more information, please visit the Center for Customer Insight.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-trust-in-ai-is-on-track-to-grow-by-15-percentage-points-by-2030-302859907.html

SOURCE Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

SYDNEY, Aug. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than three-quarters (76%) of Australians trust AI shopping recommendations as much as or more than advice from a retail sales assistant, according to new research revealing how artificial intelligence is challenging the traditional role of retail staff.

The study, commissioned by global leader in supply chain commerce, Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH), found nearly half of Australians (47%) trust AI recommendations more than those provided by a retail sales assistant, while a further 29% place about the same level of trust in both.

The shift is also reflected in where Australians turn for help when researching a significant purchase. Nearly one in four (23%) use AI as their first source of information, compared with just 7% who first seek advice from an in-store sales assistant.

Raghav Sibal, APAC Vice President at Manhattan Associates, said consumers are increasingly using AI to inform purchase decisions, changing the information they may have before they do reach a retailer and what they need from sales staff.

“Consumers are using AI for product discovery, to compare options and inform their purchasing choices. These are some of the many things they might previously have relied on a retail sales assistant for,” Sibal said.

“This doesn’t make retail staff irrelevant, but it does change what customers expect from them. Shoppers might now arrive in-store already knowing which products they are considering, what alternatives are available and what they expect to pay. Retailers and their teams need to be ready to add value beyond information the customer can now find for themselves.”

The changing role of retail staff comes as AI becomes a more established part of how Australians research purchases. More than four in five Australians (83%) have used an AI assistant such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot for shopping research, with 36% doing so regularly.

Value and convenience drive AI adoption

The growing use of AI comes as Australians continue to balance convenience with a greater focus on value. Separate research from PayPal found price comparison is now the most common way Australians use AI when shopping, with 57% of AI shoppers saying the technology helps them save money.

Manhattan Associates’ research suggests convenience is another important part of AI’s appeal. When asked why they would choose AI over speaking to a retail sales assistant, 42% of respondents said for its 24/7 availability, followed by speed (20%) and the ability to compare products more easily (19%).

Sibal said the speed and ease of AI-led research is raising expectations for the experience retailers provide through to purchase and fulfilment.

“AI can make it easier for consumers to reach a decision, but that puts more pressure on retailers to deliver when they move from research to purchase. Knowing a product exists isn’t good enough. Customers need to know whether it’s available, where it’s available, what it will cost and how quickly they can get it,” he said.

AI expands the path to purchase

Despite the rapid uptake of AI, Australians are not abandoning retailer-owned channels. Even if AI could accurately answer every product question, 84% of Australians said they would still be likely to visit a retailer’s website before, while 81% would still be likely to visit a physical store.

“AI can help a customer decide what they want, but it can’t compensate for a poor experience when they are ready to buy. If the price they find is different, the product isn’t available or the fulfilment options don’t meet their expectations, retailers still risk losing that customer at the point that matters most,” Sibal said.

“As AI becomes more influential earlier in the journey, retailers need to ensure they deliver a connected experience through to purchase. Consumers are arriving better informed and with clearer expectations, putting greater importance on the retailer’s ability to turn that intent into an accurate and reliable purchase and fulfilment experience,” he concluded.

-ends-

Methodology:

Manhattan Associates surveyed 500 Australian consumers.

About Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader, providing supply chain and omnichannel commerce solutions with unmatched AI capabilities. We design, build and offer best-in-class, AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that drive resilience and efficiency for businesses. We enable enterprises to uniquely unify front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. 

Our commitment to innovation, cloud-native platform and API-first architecture create simpler experiences and faster paths to value for our customers. We empower them to preempt and react to emerging trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational confidence, transforming challenges into competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/nearly-half-of-australians-trust-ai-shopping-recommendations-more-than-retail-staff-302860010.html

SOURCE Manhattan Associates Inc.